Electron-deficient N-oxyl radicals – new reagents for selective oxidative functionalization of organic substrates

Abstract

N-oxyl radicals are well known as one of the richest classes of long-living free radicals. They are widely used as redox catalysts, mediators of living polymerization, contrast reagents for tomography applications, spin labels for biomacromolecule studies, components of organic batteries and magnetic materials. In the last decade, less stable but more reactive electron-deficient N-oxyl radicals have been harnessed as reagents for oxidative functionalization of organic substrates via selective C-H bond cleavage or radical addition to C = C bonds. Wide array of C-O coupling products can be achieved employing N-oxyl radicals as O-reagents for oxidative C-O coupling. Selected examples of methods for oxidative functionalization of organic substrates by N-oxyl radicals developed in our group are summarized in the present paper.